Attractions industry news

Fire-hit Chester Zoo begins fundraising after 'toughest day'

Chester Zoo has launched a fundraising campaign in order to repair the damages caused by a large fire on Saturday 15 December.

Visitors were evacuated and the zoo was closed when the blaze broke out and destroyed much of the roof covering of its Monsoon Forest area.

Keepers were able to save all birds and mammal species housed in the area – including the zoo’s group of critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques, endangered silvery gibbons.

Some of the insects, frogs, fish and small birds located near to the outbreak of the fire, however, perished in the fire.

The zoo is now looking to secure £50,000 emergency funding in order to re-house the animals and to repair the damages to Monsoon Forest.

"Yesterday was one of the toughest days in Chester Zoo’s long history," said Jamie Christon, the zoo's operating officer.

"The remarkable efforts from the zoo team and the emergency services meant the fire was extinguished as quickly as possible.

"Visitors were evacuated immediately and we would like to thank them for their understanding and cooperation. Thankfully, no staff or public were harmed in the incident."

One of the UK's largest zoos, Chester Zoo last year revealed plans to redevelop 100 acres (405,000sq m) of its existing site into grassland and forest areas as part of a £100m (US$130.4m, €113m) development masterplan.

In 2016, the attraction welcomed more visitors than any other UK zoo in history, with 1.9 million people flocking to see its collection of 20,000-plus animals.

Local culture, heritage and creative industries in five parts of the UK are set to benefit from a share
of £20m (US$25.77m, €22.65m), with funding awarded by the UK Government’s Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).[more...]

Travel operator TUI is to come under pressure from the animal rights action group PETA (People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals) over its continued sale of tickets to SeaWorld attractions in
Orlando, Florida, and San Diego, California, with the activist organisation buying shares in the
company ahead of its annual meeting next month. [more...]

Dreamland – the heritage theme park in Margate, England – has confirmed the reappointment of its
former chief executive officer Eddie Kemsley to the same position, two years after she left the
business to take over at Kidzania London.[more...]